On June 27, 2026, Kīlauea’s 50th lava-fountaining episode began inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The north vent produced seven hours of continuous fountaining, with the fountain eventually reaching approximately 1,000 feet, or 300 metres, above the vent.

This is my firsthand account of watching the eruption develop from the rim, sharing it with my clients and photographing it from its early dome fountains through its final moments.

My view from the rim, with a dome fountain rising from the north vent and an ʻamaʻu fern in the foreground.

Episode 50, or Should We Say Hawaiʻi 5-0?

Never in my life did I think I would witness the 50th episode of the high fountaining of Kīlauea. But sometimes all the stars align, and magic happens.

I had clients booked on one of my tours for 3 p.m., but when the first vigorous overflows started early in the morning, I headed to the park and set up in my typical spot near the Military Camp along Crater Rim Trail.

The dancing dome fountains were absolutely beautiful, and when activity picked up around 10 a.m., I knew episode 50 would start any minute.

The fountain began to grow, and the eruption was on.

It ultimately grew into a 1,000-foot fountain, and even though the views were often obscured by passing showers and mist, it was a wonderful experience.

I haven’t been in the park during the last few episodes. Life sometimes gets in the way, and I cannot always be here, even though I wish I could.

All my clients were thrilled to see the eruption and the dancing fountain, and we witnessed the dramatic end of episode 50 during the tour.

What an amazing day it was! I saw so many of my friends and fellow lava photographers out there, and had a very special time with a German camera team creating a documentary. Their timing couldn’t have been better.

My other two clients from Ohio had the best time ever. It was a birthday trip, and they even managed to stay the night at Volcano House.

Mahalo Tūtū Pele for this wonderful day. Despite some challenges, it was a fully successful day, and I am still processing everything.

Being able to see the entire eruption from beginning to end was priceless.

The view of the fountain near Kilauea Overlook

What Happened During Kīlauea Episode 50?

Episode 50 began at 10:10 a.m. HST on June 27, 2026, and ended abruptly at 5:10 p.m., after exactly seven hours of continuous fountaining.

Only the north vent produced sustained lava fountains during this episode. The south vent did not fountain.

The north vent produced the only sustained lava fountain during episode 50.

At its peak, the fountain reached approximately:

• 1,000 feet, or 300 metres, above the vent
  

• A plume height of approximately 18,000 feet above sea level
  

• A peak lava-output rate of around 430 cubic yards per second

An estimated 6.4 million cubic yards of lava erupted during the episode, covering approximately half of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.

The growing north vent fountain beneath Kīlauea’s steam-and-gas plume.

How the Fountain Built From the North Vent?

The eruption did not begin immediately with a 1,000-foot fountain.

The first signs appeared as spattering, gas jetting and short lava overflows. On the morning of June 27, repeated overflows spread from the north vent onto the crater floor.

As the eruption approached, dome fountains gradually increased from approximately 15 feet to between 50 and 100 feet high.

At 10:10 a.m., the activity transitioned into sustained lava fountaining. The north vent fountain reached its maximum height shortly after 11:30 a.m.

This progression is visible in the photographs below: a small dome fountain, increasing overflow, a growing vertical jet, the fully developed fountain and the final gas-rich moments before the eruption stopped.

Lava activity increases at the north vent before sustained fountaining begins.

What the Photographs Capture?

The first photographs show the north vent beginning to overflow, framed by native vegetation along the caldera rim.

As the activity increases, the lava changes from a low, rounded dome into a taller and more forceful fountain. Fresh lava appears bright orange and red, while cooler fragments darken as they fall around the vent.

High lava fountains can also produce extremely light volcanic material, including reticulite and other forms of tephra.

Uēkahuna offered a powerful view of the fountain and falling lava fragments.

Several photographs also show the eruption plume. It consisted largely of water vapour, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, along with ash and other volcanic fragments produced by the fountain.

Passing rain and mist sometimes concealed the view, but they also produced one of the most memorable scenes of the day: a low rainbow stretching across the caldera.

Passing showers created a low rainbow across Kīlauea’s caldera rim.

The final photographs show the fountain declining and the last bursts of jetting lava before episode 50 ended.

Viewing Kīlauea Safely

Episode 50 remained inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and public viewing was available from designated overlooks along the caldera rim.

The eruption area around Halemaʻumaʻu remained closed because of volcanic gas, unstable crater walls, ground cracks, falling tephra and other hazards.

Visitors should never cross closures or attempt to approach the active vents.

During active episodes, visibility can change quickly because of:

• Fog and rain

• Volcanic gas

• Wind direction

• Ash or Pele’s hair

• Heavy traffic and limited parking

• Short eruption duration

The National Park Service recommends checking current park conditions, while the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory provides eruption notices, webcams and monitoring updates.

While volcanic activity can never be guaranteed, visitors can explore Kīlauea’s landscapes with a local interpretive guide on one of our guided hikes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

The final gas-rich bursts of lava before episode 50 ended.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Kīlauea Episode 50 occur?

Episode 50 occurred on June 27, 2026. Sustained lava fountaining began at 10:10 a.m. HST and ended at 5:10 p.m.

How high did the lava fountain reach?

The north vent fountain reached approximately 1,000 feet, or 300 metres, shortly after 11:30 a.m.

Which vent produced the fountain?

The north vent produced the sustained lava fountain during episode 50. The south vent did not fountain during this episode.

Where could visitors watch the eruption?

Visitors could watch from open public viewpoints along Kīlauea’s caldera rim, including viewing areas near Uēkahuna. The eruption area inside Halemaʻumaʻu remained closed.